Texas City...a lesson to those who say "it can't happen here"

[BootinUp]

The ghosts of Texas city are calling to the owners of the West city fertilizer plant.

TEXAS CITY, TEXAS, DISASTER
April 16, 17, 1947


Report by

FIRE PREVENTION AND ENGINEERING BUREAU OF TEXAS
DALLAS, TEXAS

and

THE NATIONAL BOARD OF FIRE UNDERWRITERS
85 John Street
NEW YORK 7, N. Y.

Dedicated to the people of Texas City and their heroic firemen whose tragic disaster, we pray, will be a lesson to those who say "it can't happen here".

COVER
This arial photograph , looking south over Monsanto Chemical Co., was taken about 30 minutes following the blast of the S. S. GRANDCAMP.

http://www.local1259iaff.org/report.htm

A fire discovered by stevedores preparing to resume loading of ammonium nitrate aboard the S. S. GRANDCAMP at Warehouse (Pier) "O", about 8 A. M., April 16, 1947, resulted in the first of two disastrous explosions at 9:12 A. M., April 16, 1947 which destroyed the entire dock area, numerous oil tanks, the Monsanto Chemical Company, numerous dwellings and business buildings. The second explosion resulted from a fire in ammonium nitrate aboard the S. S. HIGH FLYER which occurred some sixteen hours later at 1:10 A. M., April 17, 1947.

Only brief mention is made of the fire protection features such as automatic sprinkler systems and the fire department. The initial explosion disrupted the sprinkler systems and the water supply to them, destroying all of the fire equipment owned by Texas City and wiped out much of the personnel of the department who were endeavoring to extinguish the fire aboard the S. S. GRANDCAMP.

The loss of life was high. All firemen and practically all spectators on their pier were killed as were many employees in the Monsanto Chemical Company and throughout the dock area. At this date, April 29, 1947, 433 bodies have been recovered and approximately 135 (many of whom were on the dock) are missing. Over 2000 suffered injuries in varying degrees, among whom were many school children injured by flying glass fragments and debris in school buildings located about 6000 feet distant.

[kentauros]

1. I had a grandmother that was a nurse back then,

(my mother's mother) and she worked that disaster helping to pull victims out of the wreckage.

I found this link that shows "Bodies of the victims laid out on gym floor at a local school." It's a huge image, so just follow the link to get to the page where it's linked.
http://scholarship.rice.edu/handle/1911/36657

And thanks for posting this info for everyone.